PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leo Knight (ranked 8944 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jackson Starling (ranked 24530 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Knight
vs
Starling

183 cm
18
278 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

200 cm
22
280 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Leo Knight!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jackson Starling!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Russell Pearce and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Starling instigates a clinch.
Starling digs a right hand underneath Knight's ribcage. Knight let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Starling manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Knight wants to get up but he can't break Starling's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Knight gets to his feet - Starling follows without any prompting.

Starling gets a takedown into half guard.
Knight tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Starling manages to move to mount!

Starling stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Knight dives in and grabs Starling's left leg, looking for a takedown. Starling pushes down on Knight's head and hops out.
Knight is breathing heavily.

Knight gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Starling landing some decent shots from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starling controls from within his opponent's guard.
Starling pushing down on Knight's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Starling decides to stand and escape the position.

Starling looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starling slips nicely into half guard.
Starling not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Starling stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Knight to get to his feet.
Horrible takedown attempt by Knight or perhaps it was just good defense by Starling, which made it look bad.
Starling wants to counter with a clinch but Knight pushes him away.
Knight shoots in for a takedown but Starling shows good takedown defense.
Starling throws a big counter head kick but Knight avoids it with no problem.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leo Knight. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Starling gets a clinch.

Starling's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Knight tries to keep at a distance but Starling has taken the fight into the clinch.
Knight is looking for a takedown.

Starling pulls Knight into guard.

Starling escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Knight gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Starling trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Knight stopping the sweep attempt from Starling.

Starling is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Knight defends well.
Starling is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Knight really is a fat lump.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Starling is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Knight is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Knight chips away with some ground and pound.

Starling is working an open guard so Knight takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Knight shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Starling is trying to defend but Knight finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Knight escapes and gets back to his feet.

Knight closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Starling quickly recovers to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jackson Starling dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Knight misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Starling.

Knight throws Starling to one side and escapes!
Knight misses with a takedown attempt

and Starling counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Starling has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
With the fighters up against the cage, Knight throws an elbow but misses.
Starling prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leo Knight. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knight being controlled against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Starling landing knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Starling gets control of Knight's arms and successfully pulls guard. Starling will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Knight wants to stand but Starling is controlling his posture from full guard.
Starling really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Knight. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Knight sitting in guard here, content to control.
Starling trying to control the position here.

Starling escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Knight gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Knight wants to control from the top but Starling keeps moving.
Knight content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Starling looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Knight landing some decent shots from guard.
Knight wants to stand but Starling has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Knight thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Jackson Starling has got the better of the ground game so far.

Knight stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knight tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Starling defends well and Knight ends up having to push Starling into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Despite the aggression on Starling's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Starling gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Knight is fighting off a takedown attempt but Starling is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Knight to the mat. Knight regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Knight managing to control the position.
Knight wants to stand but Starling is controlling the position.
Knight wants to sweep here but Starling controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knight keeping moving, preventing Starling from controlling successfully.

Knight is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Starling defends well.
Knight might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Knight preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jackson Starling will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Knight gets caught flat footed, as Starling shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Knight manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Knight gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Knight controls from within his opponent's guard.
Knight missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Knight trying to stand up but can't free himself from Starling's guard.
Starling managing to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knight tries to stand but Starling is controlling from the bottom.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Knight is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Knight.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Knight tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Starling defends well and Knight ends up having to push Starling into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Starling moves into the clinch.

Starling jumps guard and drags Knight to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Knight wants to control from the top but Starling keeps moving.

Starling has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Knight has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Starling manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Starling utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Knight is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Starling working for a triangle but Knight defends it easily.
Knight controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Starling looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Starling striking from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knight tries to stand but Starling is controlling from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Starling not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Knight is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Starling's half guard.
Knight trying to control the pace.
Starling tries to get to full guard but Knight has control of the leg.

Knight decides to stand up.
Knight tries to score a power double leg takedown but Starling sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Knight somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leo Knight. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Knight scores with a takedown into Starling's guard.

Starling uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Knight looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Starling is trying to keep Knight in close.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jackson Starling.
Well Starling has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jackson Starling!